Popularity: looking in all the wrong places
Popularity was the topic of my Tuesday blog at the Storyteller Squad this week, and I’d like to direct you to it today because I think this pandemic of insecurity is getting out of hand with many people, including me. I think social media exasperates it.
Growing up I wasn’t in the popular crowd. Quiet and shy, I concentrated on my schoolwork, while the popular kids entertained themselves. Sometimes I attracted their attention and found myself grieving over all my perceived inadequacies.
I worked hard to overcome these problems that set me apart, made me the unattractive weirdo. Changing clothes, hairstyles, makeup, even holding track records, didn’t change the perceptions of the queen bees.
Working so hard to please people is a waste of time. I still fall into this trap; however, now I know my people are out there.
Worrying about popularity is waste of time
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe (Proverbs 29:25) is a true statement. Fear of people, trying to fit in or be someone more acceptable to others while burying your true self leads to despair and lots of problems. Confusion and wondering who am I really rise.
It certainly leads to disappointment. Letting others choose while you defer just slides you to the invisible- you-don’t-matter-she-doesn’t-have-an-opinion realm when you really do have an opinion. And you really want to be seen, heard, wanted, included.
Social media contributes to problem
In my STS blog, I share about how social media focuses on popularity. How many people on these platforms get depressed or really sad about the responses they get to a post or video? Other experts claim that to be any kind of success, you need thousands of followers. Such thinking builds on fear of not measuring up, not being good enough, not being liked enough.
Not being liked enough equals not being popular in my eyes.
In all honesty, we have no control over anything anyway, so why do we persist in believing these lies? Let’s live the lives meant for us and not worry about what everyone else is doing or not doing. Let’s rise up, stand proud, and be our unique self.
How do we get to the place where popularity with people doesn’t matter? What’s your solution? To read mine, click here. Thanks.
Please join in the discussion. I want to hear your thoughts and know your experiences.
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).
Read “Popularity and the Concern about Being Unseen” by clicking here.